SEEKING INDIA'S DESIGN'PRENEURS

CaratLane Design Incubator

CaratLane Design Incubator (CDI) is a first of its kind initiative by any jewellery brand in India to support ‘design’prenuers’ to bring individual talent into the industry. It is true that today jewellery designers find it increasingly difficult to break through. While ideas and inspirations can come in abundance, rarely does it get incubated into design concepts or later, take shape into actual collections. CaratLane, therefore, brings an opportunity to discover, promote and launch the next generation of jewellery designers, like you, who seek a real breakthrough.

CDI will nurture jewellery designers with a 6-month mentorship, hands-on training from industry experts and a deep understanding of the key role of design in business. Designers, like you, will not only witness their work of art take shape into real jewellery but also be appreciated with paid rewards and a certain royalty earned on the business drawn by your work.

CDI is an unparalleled platform to create ‘design’prenuers’ and with a recognizable and trusted platform — not just a design competition but a design and business incubator that is assessed by a team of professionals to help talented designers like you in your artistic and entrepreneurial growth.

Timelines

Takeaway

This is an unprecedented competition with a unique judging process, a dream mentorship and an exceptional learning experience to win! What’s more? The winners get to launch a jewellery collection of their own designs and also take away a certain royalty on the business drawn by their designs. And of course, an incomparable incubation to be a design’prenuer.

A 6-month internship at CaratLane, Mumbai Office

Winners get to launch a collection while working as part of the CaratLane design team

CDI Learning:

Vendor production training

Merchandising training

Exposure to marketing

Visit to jewellery shows

CDI Earnings:

A fixed stipend

Visibility on all platforms

Certificate

Royalty on design

Potential to be recruited full-time at CaratLane

How to apply

Submit your entry by e-mailing your portfolio to cdi@caratlane.com

Our team will evaluate your submissions & shortlist few entries.

Shortlisted submissions will be eligible for the interview round (face to face or video call).

The top 2 or 3 participants will win the contest to be CDI design'preneurs!

Evaluation Criteria

The selection of the winning candidate will be assessed on the below parameters:

CaratLane was founded with a refreshing and courageous objective – to make beautiful jewellery accessible, affordable and forever wearable. How do we know that there’s a need for us? We spoke to women across the country about their tastes and their lifestyles. And we discovered a crazy paradox. Despite their love for jewellery – and how important jewellery is for their personal style and individuality – most women were forced to keep their jewellery in their lockers. Where it was safe, but unwearable on an everyday basis. They were forced to choose between expensive jewellery for special occasions, and everyday jewellery that was of inferior quality and unable to project their personal style and values. And we started CaratLane to change this. Recently in July, 2016 CaratLane got into a strategic investment deal with the Titan Company, a Tata Group organisation.

Our Design Philosophy

The process of creating our jewellery begins with an inspiration or an insight. Ones that either stem from revisiting classic designs from a modernist view or bringing a fresh inspiration to life.

We continually revisit the idea that we hold dear – beautiful jewellery that is forever wearable. Our designs always come with a unique CaratLane touch, be it in the form of innovation in style or technique.

The first year of the CaratLane Design Incubator Programme was a huge hit, thanks to the overwhelming response from the participants of prestigious institutes like NIFT, NID, IIGJ as well as individual designers from various backgrounds. This year too, we have planned a similar programme where students studying jewellery design or have already graduated as designers can apply and stand a chance to bag a 6-month internship with CaratLane to become a design’preneur.

The Winning Design’preneurs’ Experience

ASNA AAMIR

“I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar by opting for a specialisation in Jewellery Design.

When CaratLane came to college with the Design Incubator proposal, I jumped at the opportunity as it sounded very promising. I decided to apply for it and to my surprise, I got through.

On my first day, I was quite nervous about the new experience but the moment entered office I felt very comfortable. The people were extremely welcoming and the work environment was warm and friendly.

Soon after I joined, I was given the responsibility to design the Ikat collection for Akshay Tritiya. The entire collection took around 3 months to complete and I enjoyed being a part of it at every step. My software skills, designs skills and presentation skills improved at each step. I could also take the liberty to explore my creative abilities.

The design team is one of the best to work with. Amazingly friendly, creative people who made me feel I belonged there since day one. Along with the Ikat collection, I also worked on the 22kt gold component jewellery collection for which we were taken to the Titan factory in Hosur, Bangalore. At Hosur, all the designers collectively sat and put the components together to create new designs. We had a great time as we got a hands-on learning experience and watched the entire manufacturing process at the huge Titan factory. Once our designs were made, we were also involved with the CAD team to get a better idea about the 3-D drawings of the product.

Finally, my collection got launched by the end of April and seeing the designs on the website and in the stores made me happy beyond words can ever say.
The last month of the internship was spent learning about the roles of the merchandising, marketing and QC departments and understand the manufacturing process in detail.

By the end of the internship, I not only had a bag full of amazing memories but also amazing friends and mentors. One last thing that this programme did for me was to make me more confident as an individual.”

AAYUSHI AGARWAL

“I recently graduated in Fashion and Lifestyle Accessories Design from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar.

My journey in the jewellery industry started right when I entered the final semester of my college life. Obviously, we were used to the hard work for the last 7 semesters but this one was going to be the most exciting but challenging one. We were going to enter the industry to intern for a big span of almost 22 weeks. Here, the first challenge was to get into a really good company which not only helps me to kick start my career as a designer but also enriches me as an independent being.

Just when we had to list down our options for an internship, we had a mail from the department about the CaratLane Design Incubator Competition. CaratLane being one of the most successful companies today, was already on the top of most of my batchmates lists and this was going to be the very opportunity for all of us to hit there. I applied for the programme and after almost 15 days when we had the results, I came to know that I had made it. The following 6 months weren’t easy, but the CaratLane family made the learning a comfortable and happy journey which was all worth the effort.

CaratLane not only built me as a designer but also helped me grew as an individual. Each step in the process of the collections, I had all the departments to my help. Everybody was so kind and generous all the time. They came forward to interact, help, suggest and guide me where I was wrong or needed improvement. Those 6 months were a power pack of challenges, group discussions, learning, and excitement.

During the internship, we not only interned in the design department but also had an opportunity to visit, explore and work with various other departments in the company. We had a styling and photography project with the marketing team, meeting and discussion sessions with all the heads and co-heads of the company, team visits for trend study in the local market or lifestyle events like Lil Flea’s, and personal interactions with the CAD departments to learn the technical knowledge of every jewel piece we make.

Other than such inter company relations, we also got a chance to have vendor meetings and intra-company events and discussions. Also, the most exciting experience was the one week trip to the Titan Factory, Hosur where we had an interactive project going on. All-in-all, the best part was when the jewellery I designed was actually put on the website and in store for the customers to buy.

After all the hard work and a beautiful experience, we had our final jury for the internship and thanks to CaratLane I was able to complete my 4-year journey of becoming a designer with flying colours.”

Yes. However, as the CDI programme requires you to be present in Mumbai and work full-time for the duration of the internship. If you are pursuing a course during the same tenure, you will have to ensure that your institute allows you to be a part of the programme, working hours, etc.

Yes. Participants shall be required to hold a degree or diploma in design from a recognised institute. However, established designers having retailed their brand or working with any company are also eligible to apply for participation in the CDI programme.

Commitment Required

No. To ensure that all participants are able to dedicate their entire time and energy to their internship, you will be required to work full time in the CDI programme. You cannot engage in any other assignment, consultancy or projects during the duration of CDI programme.

All participants of CDI programme will be required to commit to the CDI programme on a full time basis. Participants shall also be required to attend the trainings and workshops scheduled under the programme.